Time Flies - Weatherford College

A Ma g a z i n e f o r a l u m n i a n d f r i e n d s o f W e a t h e r f o r d C o l l e g e
Volume XIII : Issue II
Summer 2013
Time Flies
Bowers continues 44-year
journey at WC
Message from
the President
No matter how many times I participate in
a Weatherford College graduation ceremony, I
always experience a sense of euphoria as I join our
attendees in celebrating the accomplishments of
our students; this year was no exception. With
approximately 2,000 family members and friends
in attendance, this year’s graduation services were
once again a wonderful celebration of our students’
success. With approximately 1,100 students
petitioned for graduation this academic year, I
found myself thinking back to 1876, and our first
graduating class of six students. I think that is
what I love most about Weatherford College, the
history that is always there to remind us of what is
truly important. As graduation season comes to an
end, it gives us an opportunity to look back and
appreciate all of our accomplishments over the past year.
As we reflect back on our accomplishments this year, the following highlights
come to mind: the opening of our new Weatherford College Wise County
campus; the opening of our new Academic Building on our Weatherford
campus; the growth of our Granbury and Mineral Wells campuses; the start of
construction on our new Health Science Building on our Weatherford campus;
the passing of House Bill 407 that officially places Hood County into the WC
service area; being recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
for being one of the most financially sound community colleges in the state; and
for setting an enrollment record for the spring 2013 semester. Moreover, we have
experienced equally incredible results in our athletic programs, with our women’s
basketball team and our softball team both qualifying for their respective national
tournaments. We also had one qualifier for the College National Finals Rodeo. It
is clear to see that after 144 years of service to Parker County and our surrounding
communities, we just keep getting better.
In closing, I hope that you have a wonderful summer, and I look forward to
visiting with many of you in the coming year. As always, I am honored to be a
servant of this storied institution.
Kevin J. Eaton, Ed.D.
President
Contents
Time Flies.................................. 3
Do you know............................. 4
Friends we’ll miss....................... 4
WC Instructors honored for
excellence................................. 5
Faculty Member of the Year......... 5
Oklahoma teacher saves
student's lives............................ 5
Around Campus...................... 6-7
2 • The HILLTOP • Summer 2013
WC awards highest honors
to alumni................................... 8
Class Notes............................... 8
New Trustees ready to
get to work................................ 9
Thank you................................ 10
Capital Campaign
enters final stage...................... 10
A banner year in WC sports..... 11
Hilltop Staff
Katie Edwards
Editor/Designer/Photographer
Brent Baker
Writer/Photographer
Linda Brooks Bagwell
Writer/Photographer
Marsha Johnson
Friends We’ll Miss
Weatherford College President
Dr. Kevin Eaton
Board of Trustees
Frank Martin
Chair
Joel Watson
Vice Chair
Trey Cobb
Secretary/Treasurer
Don Allen
Dr. Trev Dixon
Dr. Luke Haynes
Mac Smith
Member Emeritus
Jean Bryan
WC Foundation, Inc.
Board of Directors
Dr. Mike White
President
Dr. Steven Wood
Vice President
Jacy Guynes
Secretary
Bob Glenn
Treasurer
Don Chrestman
Margaret Colton
Vickie Durant
Dr. Kevin Eaton
Roy Eaton
Dan Feely
Charlie Gilchrist
Rep. Phil King
Ed Kramer
Lonna Leach
Doyle Moss
David Orcutt
Tom Pritchard
Mark Riebe
Mike Scott
Nancy Stuart
Jim Wilkinson
Member Emeritus
Dorothy Doss
Dr. Richard McIntosh
Brent Baker
Executive Director
Marsha Johnson
Executive Assistant
Readers may send comments,
story ideas or letters to:
The Hilltop
225 College Park Drive
Weatherford, TX 76086
817-598-6275
817-598-6210 fax
bbaker@wc.edu
© 2013 Weatherford College
Equal Opportunity/Equal access institution
Time Flies
by Brent Baker
Most Weatherford College faculty members
probably don’t realize their vice president has
been scuba diving with sharks. Or that he has
flown his single-engine plane to the Bahamas
three times. Or that he encountered a lion
while camping in the African Serengeti.
Most know Dr. Richard Bowers, WC’s vice
president of instruction and student services,
as a mild-mannered administrator who spent
years teaching physics. So his “daring side”
might take some by surprise.
“I don’t know, but they probably think
I have two identities,” Bowers laughed.
“I guess my wife and I consider ourselves
adventuresome.”
Richard and Pat, his high school sweetheart
and wife of 45 years, love to travel. They’ve
chipped pieces off the Berlin Wall,
walked the Great Wall of China, visited
King Tut’s tomb in Egypt, climbed the
stairs to the top of the Leaning Tower
of Pisa in Italy and kissed the
Blarney Stone in Ireland.
Their passport
Bowers continues 44-year
journey at WC
stamp collection would make travel expert
Rick Steves proud.
But a trip that changed their life forever
was a mere 180-mile drive from Abilene to
their hometown of Irving in the summer of
1967. That’s the day they stopped off to visit
Weatherford College to inquire about a
faculty position.
He met Vernon Parrott, WC’s president
at the time, as well as James Norwood and
several others at the original “Old Main”
campus. But WC didn’t have the funds to
hire any new instructors that year, and the
Bowers went back to
Irving, where they both
began teaching in the
Irving ISD.
Two years later,
that initial visit
finally paid off,
and WC made an
offer to hire him to
teach physics.
In the
fall of 1969, 1,140 students
were enrolled at WC (now
approximately 5,700). WC
occupied a sparkling new
campus on the outskirts
of Weatherford, and
Bowers was among a
group of five freshfaced new hires,
including
Myrlan Coleman, John Fields, Ruth Huse
and Max Ratheal.
“I remember we were registering students
in the library, and I had my physics textbook
out working on lecture notes. President J.C.
Nichols walked by, saw me looking at the text
and said, ‘Now don’t be too hard on them.”
Bowers says that first year at WC was
exciting. He is quick to credit a mentor from
those days: Raymond Stockard, department
chair for Math, Science and Physical
Education.
“Raymond made me feel welcome.
He handed off the
physics duties to
me and moved on
to engineering and
other areas. He will
always remain in
my memory, not
only as a great guy,
but somebody that
really helped me
get started here at
Weatherford College.”
Bowers spent the next three
decades teaching, and you don’t
have to go far to find former
students that appreciated his
instructional style.
“Dr. Bowers was one of the
best teachers I ever had,” said
Dr. Trev Dixon, who studied
The HILLTOP • Summer 2013 •
3
Memories
Do you know...
If you have any memories of this
photo, please send a note to Katie
Edwards at 225 College Park Drive,
Weatherford, TX, 76086, or an email
to kedwards@wc.edu.
Wanda Jo Cramer Allen of Weatherford
passed away March 15. She was 77.
Deborah Lynn Berkley Cedeno of
Hudson Oaks passed away March 3.
She was 58 years old and graduated
as valedictorian from WC’s Licensed
Vocational Nursing Program.
W.G. (Bill) Coody of Weatherford
passed away March 24. He was 78 and
retired from teaching at WC in 2010
when he became Faculty Emeritus.
Don Forrest Duffield of Weatherford
passed away May 4. He was 78 and a
former WC Foundation Board member.
Annie W. Fielder of Weatherford
passed away April 4. She was 75 and
retired from the WC Cafeteria.
4 • The HILLTOP • Summer 2013
Last
issue’s Do
you know...
Yell Leaders from 1940. From left to right is
Maxine (Mickey) Queen, Lawrence Rough,
Ruth McGee, and Jim Wright, who would
become Speaker of the House.
Eva Dell Grote of Weatherford passed
away May 23. She was 61.
Frances Rebecca (Becky) Hicks of The
Woodlands passed away May 1. She was 92.
Byron Frederick Golden of Abilene
passed away March 22. He was 77.
Douglas Reid Grogan of Irving passed
away Jan. 22. He was 89.
James (Jim) Edward Guthrie passed away
April 4. He was 67.
Julianna (Julie) Bruce Kallemeyn of
Weatherford passed away March 10. She
was 90.
Johnnie Lee Lind of Mansfield passed
away May 18.
Jonathan Carl McClendon of Syracuse,
NY, passed away March 20. He was 37.
Jack Henry McCreary of Austin passed
away Feb. 9. He was 86.
Thomas Wayne Park, Jr. of
Weatherford passed away Feb. 22. He
was 70 and retired in May 2007, after
serving 21 years as the director of the
WC Bookstore.
William (Bill) Burr Poteet of San
Angelo passed away Feb. 27. He was 91.
Helen Gatlin Brogdon Shipley passed
away Jan. 31. She was 84 and served on the
WC Board of Trustees from 1983 to 1987.
Georgianne Simmons of Weatherford
passed away March 6. She was 95.
Dr. Oren R. (Rudi) Smith, Jr., passed
away April 13. He was 79 and a former
WC instructor.
Alumni, Faculty & Staff Spotlight
Weatherford College instructors Faculty Member
honored for teaching excellence
of the Year
Eight faculty and staff from Weatherford College have been recognized by The National
Institute for Staff & Organizational Development for teaching and leadership excellence and
were honored at WC Commencement May 11.
Recognized were: Dr. Marcelo Willcham, Spanish instructor; Kathy Bassham, executive
dean of Student Services; Dr. Arleen Atkins, dean of Institutional Effectiveness; Dr. Lisa
Welch, instructor of biology; Matt Joiner, WC Wise County associate dean for instruction;
Christy Walker, vocational nursing instructor, and Janetta Kruse, director of Workforce and
Continuing Education. Not pictured, Christie Daley, government instructor.
NISOD is the outreach vehicle and service arm to the Community College Leadership
Program at The University of Texas at Austin and is dedicated to the professional
development of faculty, administrators and staff and to the continued improvement of
teaching and learning.
Tonya Edwards, Respirator y Care
program director, was recognized at the WC
Commencement May 11 as 2013 Faculty
Member of the Year.
Edwards, who earned a A.A.S. from
Midland College, a B.S. from Midwestern
State University and her M.Ed. at Abilene
Christian University, has been with WC
since 1998. She has served as president of
the Faculty Senate, secretary of the Faculty
Advisory Council, chair of the Technical
Program Appeals Committee and advisor for
the WC Respiratory Club.
Oklahoma teacher credited
with saving students’ lives
Rhonda Melton Crosswhite has always
been known as a great teacher, and now
she’s also a hero.
Crosswhite, who attended WC in 198788, bravely protected several students as
an EF-5 tornado tore through Moore,
Oklahoma’s Plaza Towers Elementary
School on May 20. She shielded the children
with her body as they huddled in a restroom
while the school was being destroyed all
around them.
“I did what teachers aren’t supposed to
do,” Crosswhite said. “I prayed. I prayed
out loud.”
That statement, which she repeated on
NBC’s “Today Show,” went viral as people
around the world heard about the heroism
of Crosswhite and her fellow teachers.
Despite a few cuts and bruises, Crosswhite
and the others in that restroom were
unharmed. Unfortunately, six people in the
school lost their lives, and 23 total died in
Moore that day.
Crosswhite continues to try to help
others. She returned to Weatherford in
June to reunite with her classmates from
Weatherford High School and WC, and also
to encourage donations to several funds that
are helping teachers affected by the tornado.
“I will be fine, but there were a lot of single
teachers who not only lost everything in
their classrooms, but they lost their homes,
too,” she said.
Mardel stores are selling T-shirts featuring
Crosswhite’s “I Prayed” statement, with
100 percent of the proceeds going directly
to Moore teachers for the purpose of
purchasing new classroom supplies. The
shirts are available at www.mardel.com.
Donations also can be made to the Moore
Public Schools Tornado Relief Fund at
www.mooreschools.com.
The HILLTOP • Summer 2013 •
5
Weatherford College
Around Campus
1.
2.
1. In recognition of Richard and Nancy Stuart's significant contribution
to WC’s "The Time is Now for Your College" capital campaign, the
couple was honored at Homecoming during the dedication ceremony
of Stuart Field. Pictured with daughter-in-law Keri, grandson Trey,
and softball team members Katy Vandewater and Makayla Baeza, the
Stuarts were presented a framed autographed team jersey.
2. Former WC baseball player Ryan Brasier made his major league
debut in May with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Brasier
played for WC in 2006-07. He is the third former Coyote to play in
the majors. (Photo courtesy of Angels Baseball)
3. At a meeting of the WC Board of Trustees, Dr. Kevin Eaton,
president, had the honor of presenting Jean Bryan a crystal plaque,
declaring her Board Member Emeritus. Mrs. Bryan retired after
more than 14 years of service to the College.
6 • The HILLTOP • Summer 2013
3.
4. More than 300 of 1100 eligible graduates walked the stage at
Commencement May 11.
5. First Lt. Jack L. Knight is among 14 Medal of Honor recipients
honored at a new memorial in Mineral Wells’ Fort Wolters Historical
Park. Knight, a WC alumnus, was honored posthumously for
meritorious valor on Feb. 2, 1945 in Burma. (Photo by Lance Winter,
Weatherford Star-Telegram)
6.
4.
5.
6. As advertised, no one left the 5th annual Taste of Parker County
hungry. The May event raised funds for the WC Foundation and
featured food samples from vendors like Golden Moon Restaurant,
pictured above.
7. The WC Theatre Department’s production of “Around the World
in 80 Days” won big at the Texas College Theatre Festival held at
Lone Star College in Tomball. The play itself won an Excellent in
Production, Kylar Dobbs and Lauren McMichael both won Excellent
7.
8.
Awards, and Edna McGill was awarded a Superior in Acting as well
as Best Overall in Acting.
8. Plains Capital Bank in Weatherford has announced a $50,000
pledge to support WC’s capital campaign. Pictured are Pat Hamilton,
PCB Weatherford president; Bob Glenn, PCB executive vice
president and capital campaign chair; and Brent Baker, WC vice
president of institutional advancement.
The HILLTOP • Summer 2013 •
7
Homecoming 2013
College awards
highest honors to
alumni
At its annual Homecoming in April, WC honored three former
students with the highest honors bestowed on alumni.
Dr. Christa Johnson Mars, Class of 1971, was recognized as WC
Alumnus of the Year. Dr. Eldon Clary Jr., Class of 1960, and Duane
Durrett, Class of 1968, were honored as Distinguished Alumni.
Mars graduated from WC as the valedictorian, completing premed courses, and enrolled at Texas Wesleyan University. After her
junior year, she was accepted into medical school at the University
of Texas, where she graduated four years later in the top five of her
class. Recognized as the first woman surgeon in the medical honor
society, Alpha Omega Alpha, Mars’ career through the years finally
took her to the Mayo Clinic Health System in Wisconsin, where
she was recruited to build a surgical program in that area. Mars has
done extensive advanced training in minimally-invasive surgery,
endoscopy, ultrasonography and breast surgery. She performs 350600 surgeries annually.
Clary, a Mineral Wells and Millsap native, is a long-time educator,
having received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in
Education at the University of North Texas. His distinguished career
led him to Arkansas Tech University in the late 1960s, where he
has held various leadership positions, most recently the dean of the
College of Education. Clary has authored and presented numerous
papers on educational topics such as curriculum development,
teacher education, decision-making and rethinking student teaching,
among others. Additionally, he has served on numerous peer-review
committees for the Higher Learning Commission of the North
Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Marcos Barron (’12) has been
accepted into the American Academy
of Dramatic Arts in New York. The
Azle native studied drama at WC and
will begin his New York studies in the
fall. Founded in 1884, the AADA is
said to be the “first and finest” acting
school in America.
Dr. Ryan Cate (’02) has purchased
Riverstone Companion Animal
Center in Brock. After two years at
WC, Cate earned a bachelor’s degree
at Texas A&M University and his
doctorate in veterinary medicine at
Michigan State University. He served
as a faculty member at St. George’s
8 • The HILLTOP • Summer 2013
Duane Durrett, Dr. Christa Johnson Mars, and Dr. Eldon Clary, Jr.
Duane Durrett is a familiar name around Weatherford,
Weatherford College, and the music industry. He has been a WC
employee for more than 38 years, having served in various teaching,
management and executive positions. Currently, he is the dean of
WC’s new Wise County campus. An accomplished drummer,
he has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in music,
including Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Chuck Berry, David
“Fathead” Newman, Ray Price and many others. He founded and
directed the WC Jazz Band from 1970 until 1990, leading the first
community college band ever chosen to perform at the Montreux
Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
University in Grenada before moving
back to Texas.
Dr. April Leigh Kinkead (’99) earned a
Ph.D. in English from the University of
Texas at Arlington in May. Dr. Kinkead
lives in Aledo and teaches English at the
University of Texas at Arlington and
Tarrant County College.
Christopher Tucker (’13) has been
hired by Weatherford Regional Medical
Center as a certified phlebotomist.
Tucker studied in WC’s Phlebotomy
program, and he is taking the American
Society of Clinical Pathology Registry
this summer.
Several former WC rodeo athletes
are ranked among the top 50 in the
world standings of the Professional
Rodeo Cowboys Association. As of
May 29th, Clayton Haas is 15th in
the All-Around standings. In tie-down
roping, Timber Moore is 7th, Randall
Carlisle is 11th and Reese Riemer
is 43rd. The team roping-header
category features Nick Rawlings
(16th) and Tate Kirchenschlager
(27th), and team roping-heeler
includes Ryan Motes (8th) and Will
Woodfin (24th). Wil Gasperson is
ranked 43rd in steer roping.
Board of Trustees
New trustees
ready to get
to work
The May elections brought two new board members to the WC Board of Trustees. Mac Smith, attorney with Vick, Carney & Smith, ran
unopposed for Place 1 after long-time trustee Jean Bryan decided not to run for re-election, and Don Allen, president of the Jerry Durant
Auto Group, won the Place 2 election. Smith (pictured on the left) and Allen were sworn into office by Judge Graham Quisenberry May 28.
The two new board members answered a few questions for The Hilltop:
Don Allen
Mac Smith
Family: wife Glenda, sons Delaney & Colby.
Did you or any member of your family
attend WC? My father and both brothers
attended WC, as well as my longtime law
partner, Dan Carney, and the best paralegal
ever, Kim Cherryhomes.
Did you or any member of your family
attend WC? Both sons attended WC for
two years after high school.
What motivated you to run for the
College board? Weatherford College has
always been dear to my heart. After being
a part of Weatherford for over 40 years, I
thought it was time to give something back.
What do you see as today’s greatest
challenges facing community colleges
like WC? Overall growth is, I think, the
greatest challenge.
What are some solutions to those
challenges? The Board and the
administration need to be proactive in
strategy for the College. Everyone needs
to try to find ways to help with the growth
as long as it results in good, sound business
decisions and will benefit the College itself
and the students.
Your vision for WC? Growth.
Greatest passion or interest (besides
WC): Working and being with my family.
What motivated you to run for the
College board? I wanted to contribute my
time, energy and experience as a lifetime
Parker County resident to the important
work of the WC Board of Trustees.
What do you see as today’s greatest
challenges facing community colleges
like WC? Community colleges are critical
components of the college education
process. They must provide affordable higher
education opportunities to people who have
limited time and financial resources as well
as other obligations that make obtaining a
college degree a challenge.
What are some solutions to those
challenges? Provide an affordable quality
education opportunity and expand
community college services to access a larger
geographical area – yet, grow responsibly.
Educate more people in a larger multicounty setting.
Your vision for WC?
WC must stress academic excellence yet
provide more degree and job certification
opportunities in technical and support
fields. We must focus on education and
also lead the way for developing curriculum
and programs for the future. Also, all
teaching personnel must possess and provide
exceptional instructional skills. Continuing
education is a must for our teaching staff.
Greatest passion or interest (besides WC):
My family and my work as an attorney. I am
very fortunate, indeed.
Attention alumni:
We need your email address!
Please send your email address to bbaker@wc.edu, so WC can send
you updates, event notices, etc.
The HILLTOP • Summer 2013 •
9
thank you
Bettye Antwine
Stacy Ashbrook
Glenda Aslin
Dr. Arleen Atkins
Linda Bagwell
Chester and Virginia Baker
Ed and Beth Simmons Baker
Kathy Bassham
Mildred Beard
Michael and Jamie Brinkley
Ellie Broughton
Mike and Sheryl Brown
Merle and Peggy Bull
Bush Legacy Republican Women
Casey Butler
Laura Carousel
Dr. Sue and David Casey
Central Christian Church
Dr. Shirley Chenault
Jim and Myrlan Coleman
Weldon Cranford Family
Dr. David Daniel
Doss Heritage and Culture Center
Jim and Susan Duncan
Dr. Kevin and Sheila Eaton
Roy and Jeannine Eaton
Carol Eppright
Angela Lipscomb Eubank
Hope Farnsworth
Dan and Marsha Feely
Douglas and Bonnie Finch
First Financial Bank
First National Bank Weatherford
Ned and Nancy Fleming
Kristin Flores
Arlene Ford
Linda Frye
GeoDynamics
Richard and Marsha Gibson
Betty Jo Graber
Glenda Grable
J.B. and Lori Gross
Pat and Sharon Hamilton
Jim and Kimberly Hardick
Dr. Rickey and Judy Harman
Cherish Harmon-Baker
to the following donors who gave recent gifts to the
WC Foundation (as of May 29, 2013)
Dr. Luke Haynes
Jeanie Hobbs
Home Health Professionals, Inc.
Ruth Huse
James and Dorothy Doss Found.
Margaret Johnson
Christopher and Lauren Jones
Bill and Nancy Jordan
Jennifer Jungman
Paul and Pamela Kessler
E.J. Kopitzke
Ed and Patti Kramer
William F. Liles
Frank and Kaye Martin
Nancy McVean
L. J. Monaco
Doyle Moss
Bette Nolen
Plains Capital Bank
Bill and Nancy Polster
Susan Randall
Dr. William and Paula Roddy
Roy & Jeanne Grogan Foundation
Deborah Savage
Dr. Allan Saxe
Gary and Linda Snow
Southwest Auto Group
Steele & Freeman
Richard and Nancy Stuart
Evelyn Sullivan
Dr. James Tatum
Dr. Jack and Barbara Terry
Brad and D'Linda Tibbitts
Joe and Patsy Tison
Allen and Peggy Varnon
Vick, Carney and Smith, P.C.
Kay Vincent
WC A.D.N. Class
WC Respiratory Care Students
Dr. Mike and Avalon White
WHS Class of 1953
Elizabeth Wright
Tracey Yarbrough
Capital campaign enters final stage
Apparently, the time really is “now” for
Weatherford College.
When the WC Foundation publicly
launched its “The Time is Now for Your
College” capital campaign last fall, officials
announced a $2 million goal, an amount
four times greater than the largest campaign
in school history.
Campaign leaders are waiting to announce
totals at the Victory Celebration scheduled
for early fall 2013, but all indications are
that things are going very well.
“As the campaign enters into our final
phases, we are all delighted with the
response and the progress thus far,” said
Bob Glenn, campaign chair. “While we
are not yet quite finished, the results have
been most gratifying with a tremendous
outpouring of support!”
The campaign started with a bang
when WC’s employees responded to their
$30,000 goal by committing more than
$118,000, and the Foundation Board and
WC Board of Trustees committed more
than $681,000. Since that time, those
numbers have ballooned to $138,336
from the employees and $994,800 from
the boards.
10 • The HILLTOP • Summer 2013
“I’ll be honest with you, I’ve been
surprised by the response,” said Brent
Baker, vice president of institutional
advancement. “I knew we had a lot of
passion and commitment in those groups,
but these numbers definitely exceeded
our expectations. And our alumni and
community have also shown a great deal
of enthusiasm.”
Baker said the campaign has been
boosted by major gifts and pledges from
the Jerry Durant Auto Group, Richard and
Nancy Stuart, Ed and Patti Kramer, and
William F. Liles.
“More than 200 donors have contributed
so far overall,” Baker said. “I think people
see the impact Weatherford College is
having on students’ lives every day. This
institution has been serving the community
for 144 years, so the reputation is obviously
well-established.”
Donors may choose the destination of
their gift, whether it be facility upgrades,
scholarships, faculty/staff development, or
other areas.
“We’re so proud that the final results of
the endeavor will have a huge impact on
FOR YOUR
COLLEGE.
T H E C A M PA I G N F O R
WEATHERFORD COLLEGE
so many college students for many years to
come,” Glenn said.
The Foundation will be sending a
direct mail piece in the final stage of the
campaign this summer. To participate in
the meantime, donors may give online at
www.wc.edu/giving-to-wc or mail a check
to the WC Foundation at 225 College Park
Drive, Weatherford, TX 76086.
A banner year in WC sports
By Rick Mauch
Throughout its history, Weatherford
College has enjoyed success in sports. But
one could argue that the athletic program
is coming off its most successful year in
school history.
In the 2012-13 academic year, women’s
basketball and softball advanced to the
pinnacle event in their respective competitions
as a team, the NJCAA tournament.
"Overall, it was a banner year here,"
said Athletic Director Bob McKinley.
"We not only qualified for nationals, we
Kylee Studioso
Cleyder Blanco
accomplished something once we got there."
Women’s basketball, under McKinley’s
tutelage, made the program’s sixth nationals
appearance in Salina, Kansas. They finished
25-6 overall, winning their NJCAA
tournament opener before losing a thriller
to eventual national champion Trinity
Valley Community College.
And, for the first time in team history,
two players were named All-Americans in
the same season. Bre Brooks was a firstteam choice, and Itiana Taylor made the
Landon Williams
2013 WC Cheer Squad
third team. Brooks and Taylor are both
returning to WC next season.
Three WC softball players were named
The Coyote baseball team ran its streak
McKinley received Conference Coach of
the first All-Americans in the program's
of postseason appearances to four. They
the Year honors for a second straight season,
history: Kortney Koroll and Kylee Studioso
finished 33-25, once again qualifying for
giving him the honor 10 times in his career.
were named to the second team, and Katy
the Region V Tournament.
The WC softball team wasted no time in
Vandewater received third-team honors.
In the 11 years of WC baseball, all under
grabbing national attention, top-10 attention,
In rodeo, sophomore Landon Williams
Coach Jeff Lightfoot, the Coyotes have
in fact. They fashioned a 50-8 record in just
has advanced to the College National
posted eight winning seasons.
their second season of existence, reached the
Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo. this summer
The lone sport that did not see the
NJCAA Division I National Championships,
in team roping as a heeler. It’s the ninth
postseason was men’s basketball. But there
and went 2-2 in the prestigious tournament
consecutive season in which WC will be
is much optimism in the program thanks
in St. George, Utah.
represented at the CNFR.
to the resurfacing of a familiar face.
And they did it all with a first-year head
In the national college cheerleading
Mark Osina, who took over the team
coach, Haylee Williams.
competition, the Weatherford College
midway through the season on an interim
"It was pretty surreal and I really don’t
Cheer Squad posted its highest competition
basis, has returned to coach the team
think the kind of year we had has really set
score ever, registering a 94.38 in the Junior
permanently. Osina coached at WC from
in," Williams said. "It is all very exciting but
College Division to finish third.
1991-2008 before leaving to become an
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Jo Graber
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It’s theCenter.
ninth consecutive year in which
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I can
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WC has finished in the top four in whatever
University. Osina was named Conference
thatSoftball
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amount
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Coach of the Year three times.
of time."
they had a higher competitive score.
* Denotes Conference games.
The HILLTOP • Summer 2013 •
11
NON PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
WEATHERFORD, TX 76086
PERMIT NO. 115
Bowers
from page 3.
Pictured, from left to right: The Bowers scuba diving in the Bahamas. Dr. Bowers at the Berlin Wall in 1989. Dr. Bowers teaching Physics at WC in 1969.
under Bowers in the 1980s and is now a
member of the WC Board of Trustees. “He
taught practical problem-solving ideas and
solutions to complex equations.”
Dixon recalled a special moment in a physics
lab in 1986.
“The national tragedy of the Space Shuttle
explosion had occurred, and he piped in TV
for us all to watch. He handled that brilliantly
as if he was trained to keep us all calm in the
wake of an unreal moment. I will always hold
him in high regard.”
Ratheal, chemistry instructor from
1969 to 2000, had a daily dose of Bowers’
teaching style.
“Since my office was adjoining the classroom
for both physics and chemistry, I listened to
many physics lectures,” Ratheal said. “He was
good, very good. He had clear explanations,
with patience for all of the questions from
students. He’s been a good friend and
colleague all these years.”
After years of teaching, other opportunities
within the institution began to emerge for
Bowers. Dr. Jim Boyd asked him to serve as
interim academic dean in 1997, an experience
that Bowers says was “refreshing, challenging,
and gave me a new dimension for my career.”
He eventually moved into a full-time dean’s
role, and in 2011, Dr. Kevin Eaton promoted
him to vice president. He is tasked with
overseeing the College’s 300-plus faculty and
their programs of study along with WC’s
various student services functions.
“If we lived in a perfect world, we wouldn’t
need administrators,” Bowers laughed.
“But being surrounded by so many highlycompetent, congenial individuals makes my
job easy.”
That job has changed throughout the years,
but so has the role of Weatherford College as
a whole.
“There’s a huge perception change for
community colleges — the term ‘junior college’
really doesn’t apply anymore,” he said. “We
do so much more for students now, and our
courses are just as academically challenging as
they are at four-year institutions.
“We’re not ‘junior’ to anybody.”
Richard and Pat have two sons and six
grandsons. Both sons, David and Gary, attended
WC, earned their bachelor’s degrees and are
raising families in the Metroplex area. In his fourth decade at the College, Richard
remains energized by work while still making
time to travel with Pat. As this publication
went to press, the Bowers were preparing for a
trip to Peru to see Machu Picchu, Incan ruins
in a mountainous tropical forest known as one
of the great natural wonders of the world.
As for his love of flying, you’ll see Richard
prepping his 1963 Piper Cherokee at the
Parker County Airport five or six times a
month. He’s instrument rated, which means
he has undergone enough additional training
and logged enough hours to fly his plane
without the aid of today’s modern technology,
and to fly “blind” in the clouds, if need be.
But if you have any questions about Bowers’
flying skills, just ask Ratheal.
“There was the flight down to San Angelo
to attend a Texas Science Fair,” Ratheal said.
“Richard was newly-licensed. The flight down
was uneventful, but the flight back involved
lowering skies, icing conditions, and the
windshield freezing over. By the time we broke
out at Mineral Wells with the airport right in
front of us, I was a basket case.
“As we came in for the landing — the
window iced up except for a sliver at each edge
— Richard watching the left side of the runway
and me watching the right side. At 50 feet we
knew it was just water, and he landed us safely.
No problem. I'm telling you I left grip marks
in the dash of that little plane, and my mouth
was so dry, I couldn't even get up a spit.”
But much like his approach to his long
career in higher education, Bowers remains
humble when it comes to flying.
“It’s always better to be on the ground
wishing you were in the air than in the air
wishing you were on the ground,” he laughed.
“Also, be sure the number of landings equals
the number of take-offs.”